Read Women discussion

Starting February 10, we'll be reading and discussing books by Nobel laureate, Han Kang, whose We Do Not Part was announced yesterday as a fiction finalist for a National Book Critics Circle award.

To set the mood, here's an essay by Hannah Bae on Han Kang and the impact of her writing.
https://aaww.org/she-who-refuses-to-s...

...In these recent months, as I’ve sought ways to ground myself, I have turned to the words of Han Kang.

This past January brought the release of the extraordinary Korean author’s latest novel in English translation, We Do Not Part, which explores the porousness between the realms of the living and the dead. The same month, I also found myself watching Han’s Nobel Prize lecture and reading its English translation, which she delivered in December after she was named the 2024 laureate in literature. The lecture, titled “Light and Thread,” is included in Han’s newest book by the same name, a concise essay and poetry collection that was published in Korea in late April and is slated to be published in English translation in the U.S. in September.

“What does it mean to belong to the species called human?” Han asks. “To negotiate an impossible way through the empty space between these two precipices of human horrors and human dignity, I needed the assistance of the dead.”...

Kang's books, in order of their initial publication in Korean:

Black Deer (1998)

The Fruit of My Woman (2000) (a short story collection)

Your Cold Hands (2002)

The Vegetarian (2007) tr by Deborah Smith (2016 Man Booker International Prize winner)

Breath Fighting (2010)

Greek Lessons (2011) tr by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won

Fire Salamander (2012)

I put the evening in the drawer (2013) ( a poetry collection)

Human Acts (2014) tr by Deborah Smith

The White Book (2016) tr by Deborah Smith

We Do Not Part(2021) tr by Emily Yae Won and Paige Aniyah Morris


Light and Thread (pub date March 26). Han's first nonfiction book to be translated. Tr by Maya West, Emily Yae Won, and Paige Aniyah Morris

We're going to have an interesting conversation about not only the books but about translation and what a translator's role is. (There is much debate in South Korea about Deborah Smith's translations which, I understand, are less literal and more creative than some critics prefer.) Here's Smith on The Importance of Translation.
https://www.vol1brooklyn.com/2016/11/...
and The Guardian summarizing the debate and debators: https://www.theguardian.com/books/boo...

Most of recall the bad old days when any mention of translated literature would give rise to at least one or two comments from readers stating that they don't like to read translations because they don't trust their accuracy, or that they don't care for book A or B "but maybe it's the translation". You could count on it like clockwork, the suggestion that if you're reading a translated novel, you might not be reading the book the author wrote but the book the translator wrote. But amongst friends who read translated literature without any suggestion that it's less then or that it's a debate worth having, maybe it's worth engaging during this Author Focus on the topic of what we expect from translated literature and also isn't it always worth listening to the viewpoints of experts in the original language of publication when they've got this level of energy about a specific book? or is there something personal going on here, e.g., do they just not like Smith, a British woman, or her influence on Han's reputation as a writer? This is a secondary topic after we engage with the novels.

Finally, TIL that Han Kang means Han River. Which made me smile.

Excited for this one! Somehow, I've collected a few of these books (thanks, Goodwill!), but haven't read anything by Kang yet. This is just the push I needed.

The original Korean publication dates are interesting to look at. They are in a different order from the English translation publications. It's exciting that there's quite a few that haven't yet been translated which I assume will happen now that she's won the Nobel

I'm ready. I've been putting off reading her works for far too long.

This is great, the first Han Kang I read was Human Acts (my review here), which I found to be a profound read, so very different from The Vegetarian (my review). I also have read Greek Lessons (my review), which was ok, but nothing like the other two, so a little disappointing for me - I'm looking forward to We Do Not Part because I think it's more akin to Human Acts, and I'm also planning to read The White Book and Light and Thread.
So happy for this 2026 author focus.

I have read most of her translated works. Human Acts was, by far, my favorite. It is a hard, hard read due to the violence in it, so read with caution, but it is a powerful and fantastic book. I enjoyed The Vegetarian. It is oddly named because it honestly doesn't have much to do with her being a vegetarian. I liked Greek Lessons and We Do Not Part, but I wasn't overly fond of them. The White Book was the first of hers that I read, and I really enjoyed that one.

I think I need to retry Human Acts as I struggled to get through it. I can't exactly remember why because it was 10 years ago but it might have been the themes, like you said Misty, and my mental state at the time. I loved The Vegetarian and still have my copy so I might reread it if I can fit it in. I have Greek Lessons and We Do Not Part on order and access to The White Book on audio. I'm excited too :)

GailW wrote: "I'm ready. I've been putting off reading her works for far too long."

You and me, both, Gail. I own Human Acts but have been avoiding the grimness I'm under the impression I'll encounter. Not that I let it scare me away from most other novels, and I read other Korean women authors notwithstanding the experiences they detail. So it's time for me to get over it and I'm excited to do so with company.

I've read "The Vegetarian" which I loved and "The White Book" which I think was just ok.

I found a link to the short story, The Fruit of my Woman, in Granta. According to translator Deborah Smith it is a precursor to The Vegetarian.

https://granta.com/the-fruit-of-my-wo...

Smith's note on it is here and well worth the read: https://www.worldliteratureforum.com/...

Carol wrote: "I found a link to the short story, The Fruit of my Woman, in Granta. According to translator Deborah Smith it is a precursor to The Vegetarian.

https://granta.com/the-fruit-of-my..."

Ooo exciting, thanks for sharing. In that case, I'm sold on a vegetarian reread and I'll start with these snippets to get me in the mood :)

Hi - can I just ask if a book has been chosen - or are readers discussing what they have/what they've already read before coming to a decision - Or is the intention just to read any Han Kang book? I'm confused.

Laura wrote: "Hi - can I just ask if a book has been chosen - or are readers discussing what they have/what they've already read before coming to a decision - Or is the intention just to read any Han Kang book? ..."

Hi Laura, the author focus works a bit differently to our monthly group reads. It's basically up to you! We will be discussing any and all of Kang's works starting on February 10th for about 8 weeks. Sometimes a few of us align to read a particular book at the same time and sometimes we don't. What you see so far is just the preamble. Feel free to read any book that appeals to you and post your thoughts here. I hope you can join us :)

It's almost time to begin our first Author Focus of 2026!

I've started a thread for The Vegetarian which a few of us have expressed interest in reading together, please join us here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

If anyone would like to buddy read any of her other books let us know and we can align on a date. Alternatively, your comments and thoughts are more than welcome here :)

it’s here! February 10th is tomorrow. between this Author Focus and the Olympics, I am armed with ideal anxiety-reduction tools.

Woo! I'm excited to read this author. I've acquired a few of her books but have not read one yet.

I'm planning to start The Vegetarian in early March.
And my audiobook hold for We Do Not Part should be available any day now.

Have just started We Do Not Part

Carol wrote: "it’s here! February 10th is tomorrow. between this Author Focus and the Olympics, I am armed with ideal anxiety-reduction tools."

Excellent! I'm curious -what are you planning on reading for your first Kang Carol?

My audio loan for The White Book should become available tomorrow, it's only 1 hour 19 minutes!

Then I think I'll join you guys with We Do Not Part. Any first impressions Sonia?

I’ll be interested to hear about your audio experience with the White Book. I read the print version last year, and thought that an important part of the reading experience for this particular book was the white space on the page. I don’t think audio tends to convey that well.

G wrote: "I’ll be interested to hear about your audio experience with the White Book. I read the print version last year, and thought that an important part of the reading experience for this particular book..."

Thank you for pointing this out G. You've reminded me that I've heard that before elsewhere and prompted me to read a sample. It was very poetic and I think justice won't be done by an audiobook in this respect either. I'm going to put a pin in this one and start We Do Not Part instead :)

Hannah wrote: "My audio loan for The White Book should become available tomorrow, it's only 1 hour 19 minutes!

Then I think I'll join you guys with We Do Not Part. Any first impr..."

Early days, but loving it - the way the story builds, and the characters who show such strength, despite being so vulnerable.

Hannah wrote: "Carol wrote: "it’s here! February 10th is tomorrow. between this Author Focus and the Olympics, I am armed with ideal anxiety-reduction tools."

Excellent! I'm curious -what are you planning on rea..."

Human Acts, because I have it. I am waiting for The Vegetarian, We Do Not Part and Light and Thread to become available from my library.

Curious what you think of Human Acts, Carol.

One of the local book clubs I follow read it last summer and got lots of mixed reviews.

Lindsey wrote: "Curious what you think of Human Acts, Carol.

One of the local book clubs I follow read it last summer and got lots of mixed reviews."

I have no expectations:)

I have to finish Heartwood (which I HIGHLY recommend) and then on to We Do Not Part!

Note to self: research the Gwangju Uprising.

I've started We Do Not Part. I think it would be a good one to read after Human Acts as it opens with a writer who started having nightmares when researching a massacre for her book. She has a major mental health meltdown after the book is published. I'm wondering how much of this is semi-autobiographical

Hannah wrote: "I've started We Do Not Part. I think it would be a good one to read after Human Acts as it opens with a writer who started having nightmares when researching a massacre for her book. She has a majo..."

Oh wow, interesting. I will only manage the one book this time but I will try to remember that idea for the future, as far as the order in which to read them.

Hannah wrote: "I've started We Do Not Part. I think it would be a good one to read after Human Acts as it opens with a writer who started having nightmares when researching a massacre for her book. She has a majo..."

How are you liking We Do Not Part so far?

I forgot that I'd started the audio last summer but let the hold elapse. I just got it back (6+ months long wait list!!)
I'm still struggling with this one, wondering if I shouldn't have done the audio. Though the reader is very good.

Lindsey wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I've started We Do Not Part. I think it would be a good one to read after Human Acts as it opens with a writer who started having nightmares when researching a massacre for her book...."

I've only read half a chapter so, it's hard to say so far. The writing is beautiful, quite poetic. I'm fully on board! Personally, I need to read poetic prose slowly otherwise I end up missing a lot. I haven't tried any of Kang on audio but I suspect it wouldn't work for me. Audiobooks read faster than I would eye-read and it can feel rushed. I don't know if others have this same experience, it might be a me thing! I try to stick to lighter reads on audio.

What do you think it is that isn't working for you?

Lindsey wrote: "Curious what you think of Human Acts, Carol.

One of the local book clubs I follow read it last summer and got lots of mixed reviews."

I'm 70% or so through and have only praise for it. I think one of the challenges many American readers have - and I'm not critiquing your club members by any means - is that our knowledge of South Korean history is a big blank between 1948 and the Gangnam Style video, e.g., 2012. Most of us think of South Korea as the "free" Korea, by comparison to the little we know of North Korea. I hadn't heard of Park Chung-hee before 6 weeks ago. I read two books this January that I recommend for anyone interested in getting a handle on SK's recent history and culture, and that I'm glad to have read before tackling Kang: Three Tigers, One Mountain: A Journey Through the Bitter History and Current Conflicts of China, Korea, and Japan by Michael Booth and Elise Hu's Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. Very, very different in focus, but a good foundation for beginning to glimpse the context and history I'd like to understand better.

I have finished We Do Not Part and for me it was a 5* read/experience. I didn't look up any of the history before I read it as I wanted to be enveloped in the writing and the story. I felt that I did not want anything to come between the author's/translators' words and my reaction. I now feel like I am surrounded by lots of whirling snowfakes, so I am going to let my thoughts wander for a bit, then look up the history. I will probably then go back and reread parts of the book.
I am so pleased I read this. Love and sadness really shone in the book, I might have got a bit teary.

Sonia wrote: "I have finished We Do Not Part and for me it was a 5* read/experience. I didn't look up any of the history before I read it as I wanted to be enveloped in the writing and the story. I felt that I d..."

Oh, I'm so glad you loved it! I'm less than 100 pages in and unfortunately found I need to read it with a magnifying glass most of the time, which definitely slows me down. (I get frustrated easily) but so far I'm liking what I'm reading! I'm just at the part where she is at the bus stop with the little old lady.

Sonia wrote: "I have finished We Do Not Part and for me it was a 5* read/experience. I didn't look up any of the history before I read it as I wanted to be enveloped in the writing and the story. I felt that I d..."

This is great to hear Sonia! I think the history is going to be less important for this book than Human Acts

Hannah wrote: "I've only read half a chapter so, it's hard to say so far. The writing is beautiful, quite poetic. I'm fully on board! Personally, I need to read poetic prose slowly otherwise I end up missing a lot.
...
What do you think it is that isn't working for you?"

The writing really is beautiful. I really like the narrator's voice and cadence, but I think I'm missing things and not completely following when they go back and forward in time. I'm about 75% of the way and I can't quite tell what's happening.

I'm going to stick with it though. I feel like this is a "me" problem and still excited to try a few of her other books.

Lindsey wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I've only read half a chapter so, it's hard to say so far. The writing is beautiful, quite poetic. I'm fully on board! Personally, I need to read poetic prose slowly otherwise I end ..."

I think this is how I felt reading Human Acts. I think I rushed it too, because of the dark subject matter and my mental state at that time. I've heard that We Do Not Part is the most similar in style to Human Acts so this would make sense. If it helps, The Vegetarian is very different in style and I hope you'll get along with it better.

Carol wrote: "I'm 70% or so through and have only praise for it. I think one of the challenges many American readers have - and I'm not critiquing your club members by any means - is that our knowledge of South Korean history is a big blank between 1948 and the Gangnam Style video, e.g., 2012."

Ahh yes, that makes sense. Thanks for sharing those!

I think that's part of my problem with We Do Not Part. I have no basis of knowledge for the events the MC is discussing, so I'm trying to brush up on my history while following the storyline.

I like that Han Kang isn't giving us the "full history" of the situation. Probably because this wasn't written for an American/non-Korean audience, but also, I just think that isn't her goal. She's weaving stories among the history and alluding to the past in a beautiful way.

GailW wrote: " less than 100 pages in and unfortunately found I need to read it with a magnifying glass most of the time, which definitely slows me down. (I get frustrated easily) ."

That's some commitment Gail! I hope things get easier with your eye soon. That does sound extremely frustrating

Hannah wrote: "I've heard that We Do Not Part is the most similar in style to Human Acts so this would make sense. If it helps, The Vegetarian is very different in style and I hope you'll get along with it better."

I'm planning to read The Vegetarian next, so that's good to know! I also have it in book-form (not audio), so I hope that helps.

Ok I'm confused with We Do Not Part - She mentions 4 years of nightmares since starting the research, then publishing her book. Is there a big jump in time to the 'her' who is writing her will in the hot flat, after the separations in her life - is she older now, her daughter grown? Or is this at the end of the 4 years of nightmares? The new nightmare at the end of chapter 1 is confusing me - has the 4 years not ended or has it resumed decades later after a lull?

Hannah wrote: "I think this is how I felt reading Human Acts. I think I rushed it too, because of the dark subject matter and my mental state at that time."

That one is a hard, hard read. I was wrecked when I finished it. I asked my dad if he remembered anything about that time, and he said he did, but he couldn't tell me much. He has dementia, so I don't always get too much of a story. I wanted to know if it was reported in the US.

Hannah wrote: "Ok I'm confused with We Do Not Part - She mentions 4 years of nightmares since starting the research, then publishing her book. Is there a big jump in time to the 'her' who is writing her will in t..."

My little knowledge of S Korea comes from my Dad who fought in the Korean War. So not much. I've given in. I'm resorting to Super Summary at least for the first chapters. Usually they will talk about any history relevant to the book.

I also just checked on a graphic novel I read a few years ago, Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, which includes the uprising. I remember at the time that I was shocked to learn that South Korea had such a restrictive and harmful history.

Hannah wrote: "Ok I'm confused with We Do Not Part - She mentions 4 years of nightmares since starting the research, then publishing her book. Is there a big jump in time to the 'her' who is writing her will in t..."

Are you referring to Kyungha's nightmares? I think they were mostly prevalent when she was in the midst of her research and have recently resurfaced. That was how I read it, but to be honest I've been more confused than not for this entire book.

There are so many jumps in time. And I can't quite tell which woman is speaking/thinking, and when.

I have literally 10 minutes left of my audiobook, and I have more questions than answers.

Lindsey wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Ok I'm confused with We Do Not Part - She mentions 4 years of nightmares since starting the research, then publishing her book. Is there a big jump in time to the 'her' who is writin..."

Maybe this is cheating, but I think you are correct Lindsey. I was confused at least to the point where Kyungha went to visit Inseon in the hospital. I read this today and feel much better - it is still a bit confusing , but it was intended to be from what I've read:

"We Do Not Part’s protagonist, Kyungha, is a writer and historian struggling to cope with the emotional impact of writing her recent book on a student uprising that was violently suppressed by the government in an unnamed city that she refers to as G——. [G--, thought to mean her hometown, Gwangju, the site of the uprising in 1980]. Although a standalone novel, We Do Not Part is in dialogue with Human Acts, continuing the latter’s exploration of mass killings on the Korean peninsula. We Do Not Part employs surreal imagery that blurs the boundary between dreams and reality to interrogate long-concealed acts of state violence in Korea. Its narrative structure is often ambiguous and purposefully disorienting, meant to mimic the difficulty that the characters Kyungha and Inseon have in their search to uncover the truth about Korea’s past."

And this about the use of dreams: "Dreams themselves will also be important throughout the narrative, and the novel will blur the
boundary between dreams and reality throughout. The author employs this deliberately disorienting narrative technique to give some sense of how difficult it is to piece together information about atrocities: Official records are scant, and the government denies the events’ existence, casting reality into doubt. Survivor testimony can be difficult to parse because it is rooted in trauma and because traumatic memory, as the novel illustrates, is nonlinear and often contradictory, rising to the surface sometimes only in dreams."

Thank you Gail, this is really helpful. I don't care if it is cheating or not. I dislike this kind of confusion in books; when I think I'm missing something I just get frustrated with myself and with the book for not being clearer. But if I know it's intentional then maybe I can just let it go and enjoy the book more than I was able to with Human Acts.... let's see

Lindsey wrote: "Are you referring to Kyungha's nightmares? I think they were mostly prevalent when she was in the midst of her research and have recently resurfaced."

Yes, I was just asking if the resurfacing is a few years after the book was published or if we've jumped further ahead than that and she's now much older

GailW wrote: " Its narrative structure is often ambiguous and purposefully disorienting, meant to mimic the difficulty that the characters Kyungha and Inseon have in their search to uncover the truth about Korea’s past.""

Oooh, wow. Ok, this helps so much.
Thank you, Gail.

Around halfway through it gets even more confusing, and I had so much trouble following. I couldn't follow the stories from Inseon's mother and family but tried my best.

If I had enjoyed this any more, I would consider a re-read to catch what I missed. But I think I'll just let it go :)

Hannah wrote: "Yes, I was just asking if the resurfacing is a few years after the book was published or if we've jumped further ahead than that and she's now much older"

I believe she's older now, but I don't think Kang really ever states it for sure. I get the sense that "current day" the women are mid-late 30s, just based on some of their comments (Inseon mentioning "had she had kids"), and taking care of her 70+ yo mother, who had her when she was at least 30 (based on a later story).